MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Health met Wednesday night for its regular monthly meeting with a lighter-than-expected agenda.
The board immediately went into executive session to discuss pending litigation. After the session, a hearing concerning the food service license of Henry’s at the Curtis that was scheduled for the meeting was tabled.
Ashton Patel, owner of the Super 8 Motel on Coshocton Avenue, was on hand to report on the progress of bringing the motel’s swimming pool up to code. Last month the board suspended the motel’s license to operate its pool because of ongoing problems with maintenance and inspection. The board gave Patel 30 days to make corrections and to take the test for a certified pool operator as a condition for reopening the pool, if it passed inspection.
Patel told the board he made all of the needed repairs, but would not be able to take the test until early October. Patel requested he be allowed to hire a certified pool operator instead. He said his limited English might make it difficult to pass the CPO test in a timely manner.
The board approved the hiring of a CPO maintenance employee on the condition that Patel give the board written assurance the CPO would be retained as an employee working 40 hours a week, and he or she could be on call within 30 minutes distance of the motel in case of an emergency. The board told Patel that if the pool passed inspection and the board got the letter of assurance, it would approve the pool’s reopening.
Other business involved the continuing solid waste nuisance at 11337 Armentrout Road. The owner, David Proper, was convicted of contempt of court for not cleaning up the property and served 30 days in jail. No further cleanup has taken place, and Proper could be sentenced to another 30 days in jail on another contempt citation.
Due to a lack of available funding and a means to recoup the loss easily, Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Springer said it would probably not be feasible for the board to pursue cleaning up the property for Proper. The board did decide to look into the possibilty of getting an estimate for cleaning the property and using bail money posted by Proper to fund the cleanup.
The sewage system and water supply serving 21241 Coshocton Road has not been completed and inspected by the board. On Sept. 18, Springer requested a hearing and filed a complaint on behalf of the board. A court date has not yet been set.
New business included the approval of a contract with MOTA to purchase pre-paid coupons for Help Me Grow clients effective July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.
The board also approved a contract with the Freedom Center for its portion of the Tobacco Prevention Grant funding in the amount of $8,500. The contract will be effective July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010.
The board voted to terminate its personal services contract with Pressler & Carpenter Family Dentistry for a dental assistant utilized with Kyle Bogan, D.D.S. The board voted last month to terminate the personal services contract of Bogan, so the assistant was no longer needed.
Supplemental appropriations approved by the board included formal appropriations to utilize grant money for H1N1 innoculations.
The board then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. After the session, the board approved overtime compensation to non-exempt employees who would be involved in administering H1N1 vaccinations. This will be funded by Public Health Emergency Grant Funding.
The board also voted to accept the resignation of receptionist/registrar Joan Stringfellow, effective Sept. 30.